This post shares how to frame a mirror with clips. If you want to add a wood frame to a bathroom mirror, it’s simple—just follow these simple steps.
How to Frame a Mirror With Clips
This is the second-to-last update of my $100 Room Challenge second bathroom makeover! See the first two updates here (before pics and painting) and here (adding plants and whatnot). (The $100 Room Challenge is hosted by my friend Erin or Lemons, Lavender, and Laundry, and this time around, I’m working on our second bathroom.)
Today I’m tackling the mirror. If you’re curious about how to frame a mirror with clips—like the kind a ton of our bathrooms have—this project is for you. I decided to frame out this mirror for two reasons: it’s plain and it has a crack in the side that has been there since we moved in.
This is a cheap and easy project, too. The only tricky part was fitting the frame over the plastic clips at the top of the mirror, but there’s an easy fix for that.
SUPPLIES
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- 1×2
- Miter saw
- Drill and bits
- Orbital sander or fine-grit sandpaper if sanding by hand
- KregJig K4
- Pocket hole screws (I love having this pack on hand)
- Clamp—I used a bar clamp—or extra set of hands
- Loctite mirror adhesive
- Paint—DecoArt Americana Decor Satin Enamels in Pure White
And here’s how to frame a mirror with clips.
(Remember to wear a mask and eye protection while sanding and working with wood, and wear an appropriate mask while working with stains and finishes. Follow the directions and warnings from your particular brand. Do not use any tools without proper training, precautions, and supervision. Read my full terms of use here.)
Step 1: First I cut my four pieces to size. I decided not to do miter joints for this because to me they stand out more. Instead, I cut my pieces like this with the intent to sand the assembled frame really well and conceal the joints.
I also thought this would give a more modern look and leave a lot less room for error when assembling the frame.
Step 2: Next I used my KregJig and drilled two pocket holes on the ends of each vertical piece. I drilled a total of 8 pocket holes. The two horizontal pieces did not have any pocket holes.
If you don’t have a KregJig, don’t have to use pocket holes. I just think it’s a really great and easy way to join pieces of wood together. You could easily use wood glue, clamps, and a nail gun as well.
Step 3: I clamped the pieces down to my workspace to add stability and drilled pocket hole screws through each of my pocket holes to attach the vertical pieces to the horizontal pieces. That process looked like this.
What would have been really helpful here is a right-angle clamp, but I haven’t added one of those to my lineup yet. Soon! With this setup, I have one piece clamped and have to hold the other one steady. It works fine, though.
How to Glue a Mirror to the Wall
Step 4: Once I’d assembled the frame, I took the top two clips off and used a glue specifically designed for mirrors to glue the mirror to the wall. The part about being specifically designed for mirrors is important. If you use a regular glue, you risk it discoloring the back of the mirror and potentially bleeding through.
I put the clips back on using my drill to keep everything stable while the glue dried. You can see the two clips in this before shot of the room (before painting and whatnot):
Step 5: While everything dried upstairs, I got to work finishing up the frame. I sanded the frame really well and painted it using DecoArt Americana Decor Satin Enamels in Pure White. You can use any appropriate paint, but make sure to check if you need a primer first. If you’re painting knotty wood, the knots might bleed through some paints without a primer!
OH—make sure to paint the back, too! A small amount of it will reflect on the mirror. I have made the mistake of not painting the back of the frame before thinking it would be hidden. But mirrors are tricky that way…in that they reflect things…who would have that? 🙂
I mounted it with a few dabs of the same mirror adhesive I used for the mirror and pushed it firmly into place off and on for a few minutes. The glue begins to set up pretty quickly, and you can check to see how stable it is as it’s drying by gently pulling on the frame.
I opted not to use a nail gun for extra reinforcement because the frame is so thin and I was worried about hitting the mirror, which would have been a disaster. And apparently 7 years of bad luck…
Here’s the finished product!
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Brittany is a seasoned DIY home and garden expert, running a creative brand since 2014 that inspires others with approachable plant care guides, woodworking tutorials, and decor projects. She is a certified project manager and has completed extensive coursework in the art and science of growing your own plants. Her work has been recognized by major publications, and she routinely collaborates with fellow DIY industry leaders—but her favorite thing to do is inspire you! Learn more about her here.
I absolutely love this and your tutorial was awesome! Great job!!
Thanks so much Brooke!!
Oooooh it looks so good! I need to get a KregJig, I have been avoiding it haha.
I was intimidated at first too but it is so easy to use. Trust me—you will love it! Try the mini one if you don’t want to jump in on the deeper end, but I love my K4!
I keep seeing how the kreg jig is being used and am wanting one in a bad way. Your trim really changed the look of your mirror. Looks so crisp and clean.
I love my KregJig! Definitely recommend getting one! They make a mini one too that would be nice to try out before buying a bigger one 🙂
It looks great Brittany! I have a large mirror just sitting downstairs waiting for a nice new frame! Definitely saving.
Thanks Kristen!
Ahh I love it! It’s amazing how such a simple update can make a big impact in a space. Looking forward to seeing the completed bathroom!
Wow, it looks great! I love how it finishes out the mirror. I have a mirror to finish off in our closet so I’m definitely using this tutorial. Thanks for sharing!
The frame looks great and really gives the room a nice finishing touch. Can’t wait to see your reveal.